Experiences that crush the spirit are like being in a white-hot crucible—fearful, yet transforming. Learn how you too can “see” God in the crucible and experience the steadfast heart He gives to endure.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Hope when in the crucible--how is this possible?

Hope is not wishful thinking. "I hope you do OK on the exam tomorrow." "I hope the weather clears up soon." "I hope I can hang on just a bit longer." Hanging on has the sense of grasping a limb with our feet off the ground. This is NOT the hope onto which we hold. I think a better word is holding onto, that is, our feet are on solid ground and we are holding onto God. Therefore our hope is an unrealized reality. It is an expectation of what will be that is perfectly certain.

Peter writes that we have a living hope that is based on the certainty of the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3). No if's, and's or but's. It is this perfect expectation that we hold onto. And so our hope is: H oldingO ntoP erfectE xpectations

About Me

Daniel Schlueter received both his BS in Nuclear Engineering and an MS in Computer Science from Texas A&M University. He served on active duty in the U.S. Army attaining the rank of Captain. He then received his MA in Theological Studies from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. After working as an engineer for GE Aircraft Engines for more than 28 years, he received his DMin from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Spiritual Formation. He and his wife, Lita, have been married for more than 40 years. They live in Danvers, Massachusetts.